The Conquering King part 3.

Stronger than us!

Text: Psalm 93:4–5 “Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.”

What the waters often symbolize:

The waters are not merely an illustration, throughout the Old Testament they often symbolize:

chaos

rebellion

untamable power

death

the nations

sometimes the sea itself

ultimately the forces opposed to God's order.

Vacation Testimony:

Last week we were on vacation in Florida. One day about mid morning I was sitting on the Balcony alone and looking at the ocean, the waves and admiring the beauty of God’s creation when it hit me ! Its size !!! Then I began to look at myself, and how small I am in comparison!!!

As I looked at the clarity of the water, the waves, and felt the wind I was quickly reminded why so many of us are drawn to it every year.

But then it was as if the Lord began speaking to my spirit and revealing to me that sin, ( my own ) sinful heart and my human weakness both reminded me of the sea. They are stronger than I am apart from God's grace."

Sin often appears beautiful. It promises pleasure, fulfillment, or security, but beneath the surface it is stronger than we are apart from God's grace.

later I walked on the Beach, enjoying the warm foam rushing upon my feet tempting me to wade a little deeper. A couple days later I did, I waded out about waist deep and then about chest high when the current of the rip was so strong I literally felt like Jim Cantory on the Weather Channel as he would ( lean ) into the wind, except I was in water, and its strength would hold me up and push me back !

I quickly realized it was stronger than I !!!

Throughout Scripture, the sea often symbolizes:

chaos,

death,

rebellious nations,

and forces beyond human control.

These images ultimately point us to every power that opposes God's good order, including sin, suffering, and the spiritual forces of evil.

Reflecting back to the Balcony, I also looked out on the horizon where the water met the sky, there was no end in sight, it was at that point I reflected back on Gen. and creation, how the waters represented chaos and the Spirit of God Hovered above the waters.

As I continued gazing at the horizon my heart began to melt when I thought how Big, how Strong, and how Mighty God really is !!! For He is ( outside ) Time and space !!!

So what dose that mean for me and you ?

He is Bigger than our problems

He is Stronger than our adversaries

His Grace is Greater than my sins

His love is Deeper than any sea

Outside of Christ I / we have no hope!!!

Yahweh reigns over the forces of chaos that no human can control.

Taking another look at the sea, it like sin, conceals its dangers for example:

You know there are sharks

There are jellyfish

There are crabs

There are barracudas

There are riptides

All of which are present but seldom visible till its too late!

Many of us visit the beach never thinking of a tragedy happening to us or our family and we often turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the many drownings, stings, and bites that happen every year, not to mention how it is continuously eroding away the shore lines. Like sin we think ( I can handle it )!!!

Though the sea is stronger than me YAHWEH Reigns!

Achan’s Sin :

Just like the sea draws many people to its shores we are all drawn away of our own lust and enticed

If we reflect back to where we left off with Achan, and him trying to cover his sin by hiding the spoils for himself, we will see that there was a greater underlying problem than what he took.

His desire for material possessions became greater than his desire to be obedient !!!

What we think we possess often possesses us!!!

Jesus teaches us that ( where your treasure is, your heart will be also ) !

Though Achan's desires were stronger than him… YAHWEH Reigns!

Spiritual influences:

Rather its Materialism, money, success, recognition, pleasure, pride, control, or fear, they can become footholds through which our hearts are drawn toward idolatry, just as the rebellious spiritual powers drew the nations away from the true God."

"When mankind rejected God at Babel, God gave the nations over to the sons of God (Deuteronomy 32:8–9). "This doesn't mean God lost control of the nations. It means He gave them over in judgment while keeping Israel as His own inheritance.

These spiritual rulers accepted worship that belonged to the Lord. Instead of leading people to God, they enslaved them through idolatry. Behind idols stand real spiritual powers that seek our allegiance."

"Whatever masters our hearts becomes an idol. Whether carved from wood or hidden in our ambitions, idols always promise freedom but produce slavery."

Basically what we think we own often owns us!

Though The nations fell under spiritual rebellion... YAHWEH Reigns!

The Leper

Looking back to Achan and how he attempted to hide the spoils I am reminded of the Leper in Mark 1:40-45 who came to Jesus.

Leprosy as we know was an incurable disease at that time. It often revealed itself as a small spot that some times would go un-noticed or was easily ignored and easily concealed. But after a time would spread and consume the individual who had contracted the disease and was contagious.

People who had contracted leprosy were often isolated and abandoned left to die, just like sin.

This leper realized he needed Someone who was bigger than his problem, and without the Savior he had a death sentence!!!

We to must acknowledge our vises are bigger than us, we too have a death sentence, and Christ Jesus is the only answer !

This Leper came to Jesus confessing his situation, believing in the ability that Christ Jesus was able to heal him but didn’t know if He would.

The Leprous man looks to Jesus and says I know you can make me clean but will you ? Jesus did more than grant him his desire He reached out and touched him and said ( I Will, Be Clean )!

Though Leprosy was stronger than the man… YAHWEH Reigns!

Closing :

"Psalm 93 declares that the Lord is mightier than the mighty waters.

The Gospels show us that Lord standing in a boat saying, 'Peace, be still,' and the sea obeyed Him. The disciples asked, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

The One who rules the sea also conquered sin, death, and the rebellious powers through His cross and resurrection.

The empty tomb is God's declaration that there is nothing stronger than Jesus Christ. Whatever is stronger than us has already been placed beneath His feet."

"If our King truly reigns over every power stronger than us, then His testimonies are sure. His Word can be trusted even when our feelings cannot. And because our King is holy, holiness is fitting for His house. If Christ reigns in our lives, then our lives should reflect His holiness. We do not pursue holiness to earn His victory—we pursue holiness because we belong to the victorious King."